Alabama Makes Move up the Leaderboard in the Second Round of the OFCC/Fighting Illini Invitational

OLYMPIA FIELDS, Ill. – Alabama men’s golf carded a team score of 1-over par 281 and vaulted five spots up the leaderboard during Saturday’s second round at the Olympia Fields Country Club/Fighting Illini Invitational (OFCC). The Crimson Tide enters Sunday’s third and final round with a team total of 11-over par 571 (290-281).

Alabama’s moving day total was the second-best score by any team on the day and marked a nine-shot improvement from Friday’s opening 18-hole score.

The charge was led by freshman Nick Dunlap, who ended the day with a season-best 18-hole mark of 3-under par 67 in round two. As a result of his 10-shot improvement from the first to second round, the Huntsville, Ala., native jumped 39 spots up the leaderboard into a tie for 28^th with a 36-hole total of 144 (77-67).

Thomas Ponder continues to lead the Tide as he carded his second straight round in the 60s and is in a tie for sixth overall at 3-under par 137 (68-69). Canon Claycomb also remained among the top-15 individuals after 36 holes played at 1-over par 141 (69-72).

The OFCC Invitational will conclude Sunday at the Olympia Fields Country Club North Course. The famed course has served as host for two U.S. Opens (1928, 2003) and two PGA Championships (1925, 1961).

The Highlights

• Ponder comes into the final round in search of his first career tournament win, and is four shots back of clubhouse leader Adrien Dumont de Chassart of Arizona State (-8, 132)
• Claycomb is in a tie for 13^th overall after bogeying two of his final five holes in the second round to finish at 2-over for the day
• Dunlap’s second round consisted of a team-leading six birdies to go along with three bogeys
• It marks Dunlap’s third score in the 60s among his first five collegiate rounds played
• Similar to Dunlap, freshman Jonathan Griz also had a 10-stroke improvement from Friday to Saturday, carding a 3-over par 73 Saturday to count towards the team score
• Griz will enter the final round in 76^th overall with a 156 (83-73)
• Simms Abney is one stroke ahead of Griz in 75^th overall at 15-over par 155 (76-79)

The Field

• No. 15 Stanford (-9, 551) leads the 15-team field by seven strokes over No. 5 Arizona State (-2, 558),…